Dental Inlays & Onlays in Westmont, IL
Care for a damaged tooth.
An inlay or onlay repairs part of a tooth. We’ll explain whether it’s an option for you.
- Large cavities that are too big for a filling
- A missing cusp on a back tooth
- Teeth weakened by large old fillings
- Back teeth that take heavy chewing force
- Teeth you want to keep as much of as possible
At a glance
Dental Inlays & Onlays
Quick facts
Inlays and onlays sit between a filling and a crown.
Concerns
Large cavities, missing cusps, worn back teeth
Treatment time
We scan your tooth, then our lab makes the piece.
Results seen
You see the finished tooth once the porcelain is fitted in.
Repeat
Not a repeat treatment. Good home care helps it last.
The Inlay and Onlay Procedure
We prepare the tooth, removing the decay and any weak structure. There is less drilling here than there would be for a crown, so much of your original tooth structure stays.
Then we take a digital scan of your prepared tooth with our Dandy digital scanner. No mouthful of impression material, no waiting for it to set. The scan goes straight to our lab.
The lab makes a custom porcelain piece to replace the missing part of the tooth. When it comes back, we cement or bond it in place. The tooth-colored porcelain blends with the rest of your tooth.
How Inlays and Onlays Work
An inlay or onlay is made indirectly, which means outside your mouth, and then fitted in. A filling is different: that material is packed into a cavity preparation and molded in place. Making the piece in a lab allows a precise shape and a stronger material.
Each time a restoration is done, it takes a little more of the tooth with it. Onlays keep the cusps, the raised points on a back tooth, and the inner strength that holds it together. That helps it withstand chewing forces better.
With proper home care and a low sugar diet, an onlay can last many years. Today’s stronger materials and better bonding cements help it hold up.
The Pearl experience
The Benefits of Inlays & Onlays
- Less drilling than a crown requires
- More of your own tooth is preserved
- Cusps and internal strength are conserved
- Strong, tooth-colored porcelain
- Digital scan for the onlay, not a putty impression
- Bonded or cemented for a precise fit
What to expect
Conservative restorations at Pearl Dental Care
We would rather save tooth structure than remove it. When an onlay will do the job, we will not talk you into a crown. We take a digital scan instead of a putty impression, which is easier for you and more accurate for our lab. An onlay costs closer to a crown, and what you get for it is a more conservative preparation. You will know the plan and the fee before we prepare the tooth.
FAQs about
Dental Inlays & Onlays
What is a porcelain onlay?
It is a custom piece of porcelain, made outside your mouth to fit your tooth and replace the part that is missing. It is cemented or bonded in place. The tooth-colored material blends in with your natural tooth.
How is an onlay different from a crown?
A crown covers the tooth and takes more drilling. An onlay replaces only the part that is missing. That leaves more of your natural tooth, which helps keep it strong.
How is an onlay different from a filling?
A filling is packed into the cavity preparation and molded in place in your mouth. An onlay is made in a lab from stronger material and then fitted in. That works better when a larger portion of the tooth is gone.
Do you take a putty impression for an onlay?
For an onlay we take a digital scan, not a putty impression. We scan your prepared tooth with a Dandy digital scanner and send the file straight to the lab. There is no goop to sit through, and the fit comes back more accurate.
How long will my onlay last?
With normal wear and tear, good home care and a low sugar diet, onlays can last many years. Stronger materials and better bonding cements help. We check it at every cleaning.
Ready to save more of your tooth?
Questions about dental inlays & onlays? Call (630) 810-9940. We’ll help you plan a visit and understand your options.
Every plan is personalized at your visit. Results vary from person to person. Illustrative images are not actual patients.
Request a visitThe Pearl approach
The dentist
you will see.
Your comfort and trust matter to Dr. Najwa. She wants you to feel heard, cared for, and comfortable asking questions.
- Westmont, IL
- One office, on 63rd St
- Dr. Najwa Jaamour
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Delta Premier
- In-network insurance
What patients say
Smiles with a story.
Great dental experience! Thorough exam and cleaning. Very good info about teeth and areas that need attention.
James F. Published patient review
Sweet, caring providers who listen to patient concerns and accommodate as much as possible.
Pam A. Published patient review
Very gentle and understanding dentist! Great staff as well. So glad I found them!
Bridget L. Published patient review
Areas we serve
Dental Inlays & Onlays for neighbors near Westmont.
We have one office, at 331 W 63rd St in Westmont. These are the towns our patients drive in from. Each link shows the road distance and the drive time from the middle of that town to our door.
- Monday
- 9AM - 5PM
- Tuesday
- 9AM - 5PM
- Wednesday
- 12PM - 8PM
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- 9AM - 5PM
- Saturday
- 8AM - 1PM by appointment
- Sunday
- Closed